Eosinophilic Fasciitis – Report of Three Cases and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic fasciitis is a rare fibrosing disorder of muscle fascia with rapid onset of erythema, induration, oedema and tenderness affecting extremities bilaterally. CASE REPORT: We report three cases of eosinophilic fasciitis in 3 females aged 64, 65 and 73 years, in two of them in association with morphea. They fulfilled the proposed diagnostic criteria. Associated malignancies could be excluded in all of them. They were treated by systemic corticosteroids. In the two females with associated morphea higher prednisolone dosages and a combination with methotrexate was necessary. CONCLUSIONS: Eosinophilic fasciitis is a differential diagnosis of systemic scleroderma. Response to treatment is often delayed. Systemic corticosteroids are the first line therapy. Patients with associated morphea need combined drug therapy, in our patients with methotrexate. There is no close correlation between laboratory signs of inflammation and clinical response to treatment.